The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC) has ordered the Enugu State government to recover nine properties allocated to non-public servants of the state during the Sullivan Chime administration.
The individuals and private companies were allocated choice properties at the Government Reserved Area (GRA) by the then Chime administration in contravention of the state government’s Monetisation Policy.
However, the recovery order which is contained in the report of Investigation Activities by ICPC with reference number ICPC/INV/MDA/CH/003 sent to the Secretary to the State Government by Nta Ekpo, immediate-past ICPC chairman, maintained studied silence on its findings on government property located at No 3 Mount Street, GRA, Enugu, hitherto occupied by the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigeria Army, Major-General Shehu Yusuf.
Ekpo who sent the recovery order to the SSG on 12th January, 2016, expressly stated that the affected properties were “allocated to non-public officers of the state in violation of the provisions of the ICPC Act No 5 of 2000.
“The allocations also contravenes the Circular Number ENS/HOS/X.21/Vol.11/141 and ENS/HOS/X.21/Vol.11/182 issued on the Monetisation Policy by the state government.
“In view of the above, all the nine properties allocated to the underlisted should be recovered and revert back to Enugu State Government and all monies paid by them refunded,” ICPC stated.
The affected property, according to the anti-graft agency were fraudulently allocated by the Sullivan administration in violation of anti-graft laws.
The properties includes No 34 Abakaliki Road, GRA, Enugu, for the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Muazu. He did not pay for the property and ICPC instructed it should be recovered and nothing refunded to him.
The other is at No 16 Park Avenue, GRA Enugu given to former Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke for N26.86 million; No 46/49 Abakaliki Road, GRA Enugu given to Elgato Development Ltd at A cost of N32.11 million.
Others are No 6 Cattarnach Street, GRA Enugu given to Chief James Okwute at the cost of N8.7 million; No 4 Cattarnach Street, GRA Enugu given to Chief Ralph Nwoye at the cost of N5.5 million; and another at No 25 Devon Street, GRA Enugu given to former factional chairman of PDP in the state, Chief Ikeji Asogwa at the cost of N6.4 million.
Similarly, ICPC ordered the recovery of property on No 4 Abakaliki Road, GRA Enugu given to another chieftain of PDP, Chief Tony Exe at the cost of N11.76 million; as well as No 7 Cattarnach Street, GRA Enugu given to Mr. Dennis Okey Nnamani at the cost of N6.72 million and the property situate at No 23 Abakaliki Road, GRA Enugu given to the Nnaemela Foundation for N14.63 million.
ICPC added that “the recovered properties should be advertised for public offer. It is however not clear to our reporters if former governor Chime carried out the instructions as it could not obtain information that the State government complied with the directive up till the time of filing this report.
However, regarding the property at No 3 Mount Street GRA Enugu, which was the subject matter of a petition by Engr. Luke Mmamel, former Commissioner for Works and later Transport in the state, ICPC kept studied silence on its status, but only said in its Investigative Report that “one of the (nine) properties may be offered to Engr. Luke Mmamel, who was an all other initially but could not take physical possession after fencing one of the properties (not mentioned in the report)”.
Investigations have revealed that Engr. Mmamel petitioned the ICPC stating that the property at No 3 Mount Street GRA Enugu, was allocated to him under the Monetisation Policy by the Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani administration and that in spite of his fencing the said property, former governor Chime denied him possession of the property but instead, allocated same to Maj-Gen. Yusuf, the former 82 Division GOC, who was neither an officer of the State government nor from the State as required by the law.
Mmamel was piqued that then Gov. Chime who had 22nd December, 2008, approved his application for revalidation of the property which was conveyed to him the next day, 23rd December, 2008 by Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, the Chief of Staff to then governor via memo reference number GHS/361/XV11/203 and another memo with reference number ENS/SSG/M.276/V1/19 of 7th January, 2009 by the Permanent Secretary (Admin) in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Douglas Eze, has become a subject of controversy.
The controversy arose because after Mmamel wrote to the GOC on 13th July, 2009 asking for possession of the official residence, Gen. Yusuf through one Major A. O. Fadairo in letter reference number 82DIV/G4/100/35 of 16th July, 2009 asked for patience from Mmamel before he takes over possession of the property because “ejection of the occupants (GOC) will bring untold hardship to the officer and his immediate family, as there is no vacant accommodation to quartered (sic) them in the Barracks.
“Consequently, the quarters will be handed over at the completion of the construction of the 2 blocksof flats in the Barracks as agreed with the Enugu State Government,” Maj Fadairo stated.
The GOC had through letter reference number 82DIV/G4/100/35 of 30th July, 2009 accepted Engr. Mmamel’s request to fence the said property.
The ICPC report did not go into this area bit kept off the claims even though it stated that Engr. Mmamel should be allocated any of the nine mentioned properties is he desires such.
Investigations by our correspondents have shown that the disputed property was fenced by Engr. Mmamel but still in possession of the Military chieftain ev3n though he had since ceased to be GOC 82 Division and the said blocks of flats constructed as agreed with the state government.
Furhermore, efforts made to get ICPC comment on why it did not mention the property on Mount Street GRA Enugu in its Investigative Report did not yield any fruit as we were told that Nta Ekpo who issued the report is no longer chairman of ICPC.
Enugu State government officials approached on the matter were afraid to speak, fearing a possible backlash.
